I think the main reason was Greg did not care that it was taking so long.
Football Rutgers' Hire of South Dakota Head Coach Travis Johansen As Defensive Coordinator is FINAL!
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Right. He probably cared to an extent at the beginning. I’m sure he would’ve liked to identify what he was looking for early in the portal cycle, but clearly, he was looking for something specific and wasn’t going to compromise.
Interesting how the pitch fork crew has gone silent.
Was thinking that when I posted. Went down like a blazing saddle.
Under current NCAA Division I football rules for the 2025-2026 cycle (effective for this period):
- The standard offseason transfer portal window closed on January 16, 2026.
- However, there is a specific head coaching change exception for football: A 15-day window opens for players to enter the transfer portal, starting 5 days after a new head coach is hired or publicly announced.
Thanks for the snide remark Skippy. Wiseass
Amazed that I unblocked you. That’s fixed now.
The "pitch fork" crew was more concerned on the length of time. Now- it looks like a very solid hire...but there are a million reasons why the search took this long and ended with a good hire that should have happened a month ago- there would have been no reason for the new DC to push it off for any reason. so- the million reasons are on Greg's side. Did Greg actually keep this guy on a string for months as he tells him "I'm hoping for someone better" or did it take this long because Greg didn't reach out to him until everyone else said no.
This hire is a coach that would have jumped at it- this hire is exactly how Greg/Rutgers should have gone and this hire seems to make so much sense.
How long it took- is still a debate. Because, if it happened a month ago- it all would have been a win/win
So- don't go jumping on your pitchfork crew...It still does not have a good look for Greg.
But, I do like the hire and would have fully supported Greg if he didn't seem to be the backup to the backup's backup...
I’m talking specifically about those who proclaimed it fact that the delay was because nobody was willing to coach for Greg. That was simply a ridiculous notion. That he’s so awful standing mid-major DC’s didn’t even want the job even with a massive jump in pay. There was never a chance it was that.
well - no one wanted to coach for him over the past 2 months...that point still holds...Either Greg had not identified this guy or he pushed him off for 2 months hoping on one of the guys that said no...
TKR podcast said he turned down multiple candidates who interviewed.
Greg’s first 2 choices turned him down! Facts! It took way too long and yes this hangs on him. At least he found his replacement
If you spent more time listening to people that know football, rather then the fools who only talk about firing Schiano, you would b much better informed on the rules of the game Rocco!
Better to take your time finding who you think is the right fit rather than run out after being rejected ( or mutual non- interest ) and hire someone you're not sure is a good fit just to fill the position.
I didn't like the wait and expressed my displeasure about it.
Now I'm happy , but if he doesn't work out I will complaining Schiano should have taken more time to find a better hire
Better to take your time finding who you think is the right fit rather than run out after being rejected ( or mutual non- interest ) and hire someone you're not sure is a good fit just to fill the position.
I didn't like the wait and expressed my displeasure about it.
Now I'm happy , but if he doesn't work out I will complaining Schiano should have taken more time to find a better hire
"According to sources, Rutgers received interest from multiple NFL position coaches and Power 4 assistants and coordinators.
At least one of the assistants who expressed interest has won multiple Super Bowls, and another played a key role in driving a turnaround for an NFL playoff team.
But the rules surrounding the timeframe for when NFL coaches are permitted to interview did not allow a quick search for Schiano, who also spent two weeks on the road recruiting."
Inside look at how Rutgers football landed on Travis Johansen as new DC
Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano conducted an exhaustive search for a new defensive coordinator. Here's how he landed on Travis Johansen.
sports.yahoo.com
This article names two possibilities that went elsewhere and states Schiano is notoriously a hard boss that might have reduced interest in taking the job for some candidates we might have liked to see hired."According to sources, Rutgers received interest from multiple NFL position coaches and Power 4 assistants and coordinators.
At least one of the assistants who expressed interest has won multiple Super Bowls, and another played a key role in driving a turnaround for an NFL playoff team.
But the rules surrounding the timeframe for when NFL coaches are permitted to interview did not allow a quick search for Schiano, who also spent two weeks on the road recruiting."
Inside look at how Rutgers football landed on Travis Johansen as new DC
Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano conducted an exhaustive search for a new defensive coordinator. Here's how he landed on Travis Johansen.
But the crux of the matter,Greg hired someone we seem to be happy with
>One final factor is that Rutgers is not deemed to be a very desirable job for coaches in general. In addition to the struggles one might face with Schiano, Rutgers does not have the allure of a Michigan, Alabama, or even Penn State or Iowa for that matter. In fact, it has the opposite. The program has a negative image overall that can be hard for coaches to overlook, even if the team has had success recently.<
How Rutgers Length Defensive Coordinator Search Reflects on the Program Overall
Rutgers football is in the midst of its second lengthy defensive coordinator search in two years. Much speculation has circled around in the fanbase as to why
www.si.com
Which is why I'll be laughing so hard when I see the list of possible replacements for Schiano when he finally retires.This article names two possibilities that went elsewhere and states Schiano is notoriously a hard boss that might have reduced interest in taking the job for some candidates we might have liked to see hired.
But the crux of the matter,Greg hired someone we seem to be happy with
>One final factor is that Rutgers is not deemed to be a very desirable job for coaches in general. In addition to the struggles one might face with Schiano, Rutgers does not have the allure of a Michigan, Alabama, or even Penn State or Iowa for that matter. In fact, it has the opposite. The program has a negative image overall that can be hard for coaches to overlook, even if the team has had success recently.<
How Rutgers Length Defensive Coordinator Search Reflects on the Program Overall
Rutgers football is in the midst of its second lengthy defensive coordinator search in two years. Much speculation has circled around in the fanbase as to why
I've always beeen amazed at GS's success in recruiting here.
I go both ways on this- he was very good in the old days when recruits were still doing dvd's of their film that had to be sent out to teams- that allowed coaches like him to really find the gems that were not at a powerhouse program, that coaches from out of state would have no clue about. These were the 2 star recruits that played mult NFL seasons.
That all changed but since he built a great rep with the NJ/NY HS coaches- that still continued to help.
Right now- it doesn't amaze me- it is underwhelming. And he no longer has Ash to put it on- he has gone a full cycle. It helps because he has gotten us to bowls. And he has made us a mid level team.
As for coaches- ok- yeah, big surprise- Greg is not a boss you really want to have. Well, yep, he got a good DC- from what it appears- but we most likely had a 7 figure budget for this hire and he could not get a proven guy at this level. If that is not a red flag- then, I don't know what is. And if this guy ends up being a perfect fit- then it should have happened so much quicker.
But now- let's see what we have...Can KC do what he did last year without AK, Strong? And can the defense get back on track- and even with great coaching- we lost a couple of good pieces- do we have their replacements?
But at least now- I am excited again to see what we have.
This article names two possibilities that went elsewhere and states Schiano is notoriously a hard boss that might have reduced interest in taking the job for some candidates we might have liked to see hired.
But the crux of the matter,Greg hired someone we seem to be happy with
>One final factor is that Rutgers is not deemed to be a very desirable job for coaches in general. In addition to the struggles one might face with Schiano, Rutgers does not have the allure of a Michigan, Alabama, or even Penn State or Iowa for that matter. In fact, it has the opposite. The program has a negative image overall that can be hard for coaches to overlook, even if the team has had success recently.<
How Rutgers Length Defensive Coordinator Search Reflects on the Program Overall
Rutgers football is in the midst of its second lengthy defensive coordinator search in two years. Much speculation has circled around in the fanbase as to why
I’m sure he was turned down (perhaps for a better offer) by a few targets, but the early reports by the TKR staff was that there was also interest by several candidates that we decided to pass on.
The point is - everything Greg said about what he would be looking for and how he would approach the search going into it checked out in the end. He was not going to rush to hire someone he wasn’t happy with just to get it done.
I guess I'm more impressed than you are with the 2026 recruiting class. IMO no other coach we've ever had here could bring in guys like Dyzier Carter, Elias Coke, Messiah Tilson, Rinaldo Callaway, and Devonte Anderson in one class...just to name the guys who probably make the two-deep this Fall. Wydeek Collier should probably be included in that group.
And that's from a guy who remembers Terry Shea's and Dick Anderson's recruiting classes.
If you think it was a struggle to get a quality defensive co-ordinator, wait until Schiano is gone and you see the stampede of quality applicants to be his replacement. They'll take one look at our schedule and another at the size of our fan base and move on.
When Hobbs made the return of Greg a reality , I believe it was because no one was knocking down Rutgers door to replace Ash.
Employment applications Hobbs sent to those he wanted came back, return to sender address unknown.
Phone calls wound up on the block list of unemployed coaches and Hobbs' faxes offering the job were considered spam.
Well not anyone who was going to revitalize lost fans anyway. The program was lucky to have Langhan willing to walk out on the field to take a pounding each game. Every other QB quit. Pretty wild thinking back - he did it for free….
This just proves he was aiming high and wouldn’t settle for someone he didn’t want. It has zero to do with the notion that we couldn’t convince a standing mid-mor DC to come to RU fro double the pay.
Ok! Or no one wants to work for him and it’s not a stepping stone ppl want to have since it does not lead to a HC job like power 4 coordinator jobs do. It proves Greg is still a bad guy who is an bad X and O coach and mishandled his D C search 2 years in a row!
Thats right he did it two years in a row ! He was so competent in his process that his last hire didn’t last the season.
We will see if this is a good hire. No one can say for sure. There is a reason he was available. He may be a home run or he may be a dud, but no one was banging on his door at this level to hire him.
It must be painful to post something positive about the football program. We get it, you don’t like Schiano.
You don’t have to like Greg, but the facts don’t come close to proving what your saying. In fact, Richie said point blank that TKR knew he turned down several candidates early after interviewing them. Meaning, it is a factually inaccurate statement to say “nobody was willing to work for him”.
I am not advocating for anything here in terms of Greg. It’s TBD whether this hire works out or not, but the point is, you and the others in the extreme Pitch fork camp are the ones proven wrong here. Your “fact” at most only “proves” that the job wasn’t desirable enough where he could handpick whoever he wanted. Him shooting high and getting shut down by a couple people in the process for whatever reason does NOT “prove” he couldn’t get anyone to work for him even for a pay raise. The hire itself proves this statement was blatantly false and the information from Richie stating that we turned down options early further supports that this statement was never close to reality.
I don’t disagree he “ turned ppl down”. But I know for a fact he was also turned down and that is a reason the search extended.
It is also true no one of note wants to work for him because of his old school grind bully mentality.
Taking a OC or DC power 4 job is supposed to be a stepping stone to a quality HC opportunity. Not that case working for Greg so ppl don’t want to deal with a bully .
Your third and first part of your last sentences in bold are not fact and just your speculation.
Joe Harasymiak moved to a head coaching position at a G5 school. Kyle Flood was hired as HC of Rutgers. That's a stepping stone.
Schiano had assistants that went on to become HCs one at UMass doesn't look like he;ll last, another went on to a small college to be their HC and was the NO Saints interim HC a little while back.
One who is coaching a B1G program now only has kind words about his time under Greg
Could be Greg's hard driving style and possible ego has some give RU job opportunities under him a wide berth, but it also could be Schiano only goes after those willing to do the work to run the type of systems he wants from his coordinators.
From finding head coaches to assistants Rutgers football has a hard timer getting the top rated ones to give it a look.
So it might bot be just Greg keeping them away, it's who the school is perceived as a sports venue and chances to advance from there with a media more focused on the negative than giving the program and coaching staff a positive spin.
This SD addition might not have the names of big time programs on his resume, but it does look like success is written all over it in a small way.
He's not a retread or been canned from a big time program on the way to RU, I like Schiano's chances in having hired a good one.
Ok speculation for you but if you take your time and look at the last 2 seasons DC search and look under the hood. Not speculating.
John took probably the worst job in D1 football and a pay cut to get away from Greg! Flood was hired on a panic because Greg left us in a lurch last minute. The AD was simply trying to secure a recruiting class.
It’s ok to like Greg but he is not a good person, he is a bully, he is a bad x and o coach, he did botch his DC search 2 years in a row, and ppl don’t like working for him.
To me this is comical…how many Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana (pre-Cignetti), UMD, UVA, etc coaches go on to P4 head coaching jobs? Likely a small %’age…
Stop comparing RU to PSU, UM, or another blue blood program…
My BS meter is screaming about this statement....How do you know this for a fact??????????? Truth is you don't
he turned down and was turned down. there was interest in the job from college and NFL per Richie
stop with the narrative that no one would come here.
stop with the narrative that no one would come here.
I have kind of given up on following recruiting. Need to only watch who is on the field. College football has taken enjoyment away from HS kids coming in and looking forward to watching them develop
Do you know what all of those schools you listed that are not blue bloods have in common????
They fired the lame duck coaches because they are trying to win!
you defending the disaster which is our coach is the comical part.
he was rebuffed by a few per Richie. Now, whether he made an offer or not I don't know but people he sought out were not interested. that can mean many things however
You’re changing your argument.
You stated nobody would come here because coaching for/with GS won’t land a P4 head coaching job. I simply reflected RU isn’t too dissimilar from other lower P4 programs concerning coordinator promotion to other P4 jobs…and without a counter argument chose to pivot implying I’m defending GS (which I’m not)…it’s like a dog losing a staring contest.
To me the comical part is you singing the same song about firing our football coach and our basketball coach over and over and over again.
I can't help wondering when you thought RU had an acceptable coach of either program. That, of course. is assuming you actually are a Rutgers fan.
Giving Johansen a 3yr deal suggests Schiano has at least 2 seasons left unless things really go sideways so a pretty futile exercise in discussion the status of our head football coach. Let's all support GS!!!!
John McNulty? The guy has been going nowhere for the last 20 years. That's not an insult- it's reality. He is a position coach and no more. He came back to work for Greg, didn't he? And this was after he burned his bridge at Rutgers under Ash.
Flood has done OK for himself. He must not be a total zero because Sarkisian has taken him from the Falcons to Alabama to Texas where Flood holds the OC title, but not the responsibilities. He is making really great money with no state income tax and very little responsibility/pressure. Seems like a win.
I never said I liked Greg. I have been in his company several times. He is a good and decent man. I'm not wild about the way he does some things as a coach, and he seems to be stuck in an old way of doing things, much like Pikiell. Bully and not easy to work for is a narrative, but not confirmed. There have been many, for example PJ Fleck and Mario Cristobal, who have spoken highly of Greg. Maybe the negative narrative comes from a few people who could not cut it as P4 coaches. We don't know.
If he is so miserable to work for, explain why Kirk C has stuck with him for so long.
Noonan has been on staff since 2020.
Brock going into his 4th year.
Shaw in his sixth year.
Vallone on staff since 2020.
Narratives are like opinions and buttholes, everyone has one and some stink.